Hebei's economy is based on agriculture and manufacturing;it is China's premier steel producer,which has contributed to serious air pollution.[9][10][11]
Etymology
"Hebei" means 'north of the river',derived from the province's location north of the Yellow River in the North China Plain.[12][13][14][15] In the Yu Gong,the province is recorded as "Jizhou",lending to its traditional abbreviation of "Ji" (冀).
The province's nickname is "Yanzhao" (燕赵),which is the collective name of the Yan and Zhao states that controlled the region during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods (771–221BC).[16] In 1421,the Yongle Emperor of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644) moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing,and the province surrounding the new capital was first called North Zhili or Zhili,meaning 'directly ruled'.[17][18][19] When Nanjing became the capital of the Republic of China in 1928,the province of Zhili was abolished and given its present name of Hebei.[20]
During the Spring and Autumn period (722–476 BC),Hebei was under the rule of Yan in the north and Jin in the south. Also during this period,a nomadic people known as Dí invaded the plains of northern China and established Zhongshan in central Hebei. In the Warring States period (403–221 BC),Jin was partitioned and much of its territory in Hebei went to Zhao.
Qin and Han dynasties
The Qin dynasty unified China in 221 BC. The Han dynasty (206 BC –220 AD) ruled the area under two provinces,You Prefecture in the north and Ji Province in the south. At the end of the Han dynasty,most of Hebei was under the control of warlordsGongsun Zan in the north and Yuan Shao further south. Yuan Shao emerged as the victor of the two,but he was defeated by Cao Cao in the Battle of Guandu in 200. Hebei came under the rule of the Kingdom of Wei,established by the descendants of Cao Cao.
Tricolor Duck-Shaped Cup,Tang dynasty,unearthed from Anxin County
Tang and Five dynasties
During the Tang dynasty (618–907),the area was officially called Hebei for the first time. The Great Yan State was established in Hebei from 756 to 763 during the An Lushan Rebellion. After the rebellion,Lulong Jiedushi retained its autonomy from Tang during most of the 9th century. During the late Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period,Lulong was fragmented among several regimes including the short-lived Yan. It was eventually annexed in 913 by Li Cunxu,who established the Later Tang (923–936). Emperor Gaozu of the Later Jin dynasty ceded much of northern Hebei to the KhitanLiao dynasty. This territory,called the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun,became a weakness in the Chinese defense against the Khitans for the next century because it lay within the Great Wall.
Song through Yuan dynasties
During the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127),the sixteen ceded prefectures continued to be an area of contention between Song China and the Liao dynasty. Later,the Southern Song dynasty abandoned all of North China,including Hebei,to the Jurchen Jin dynasty after the 1127 Jingkang Incident of the Jin–Song wars. Hebei was heavily affected by the flooding of the Yellow River;between 1048 and 1128,the river ran directly through the province rather than to its south.[23]
The MongolYuan dynasty divided China into provinces but did not establish Hebei as a province. Instead,the area was directly administrated by the Secretariat at the capital Dadu.
Ming and Qing dynasties
During the Ming dynasty,what is now Hebei was first constituted as Beizhili,when the capital of China was located at Nanjing along the Yangtze River. In 1403,the Ming Yongle Emperor relocated the capital to Beiping,which was subsequently renamed Beijing.[24] The region known as Beizhili was composed of parts of the modern provinces of Hebei,Henan,Shandong,including the provincial-level municipalities of Beijing and Tianjin.
The Qing dynasty came to power in 1644 and centralized its capital in Beijing. Southern Zhili was reconstituted as the province of Jiangnan,while Northern Zhili simply became known as Zhili,or Directly Ruled. The northern borders of Zhili extended deep into Inner Mongolia and overlapped in jurisdiction with the leagues of Inner Mongolia.
The Qing dynasty collapsed in 1912 and was replaced by the Republic of China (ROC). In a few years,China descended into a civil war,with regional warlords vying for power. Since Zhili was so close to the capital of Beijing,it was the site of the Zhiwan War,the First Zhifeng War,and the Second Zhifeng War. With the success of the Northern Expedition in 1926 and 1927 by the Kuomintang,the capital was moved from Beijing to Nanjing. The ROC assigned portions of northern Zhili province to its neighbors in the north and renamed the remainder to Hebei,reflecting the relocation of the capital and its standard provincial administration.
The founding of the People's Republic of China saw several changes. The region around Chengde,previously part of Rehe Province (historically part of Manchuria),and the region around Zhangjiakou,previously part of Chahar Province (historically part of Inner Mongolia),were merged into Hebei. This extended its borders northwards beyond the Great Wall. Meanwhile,the city of Puyang was carved away,causing Hebei to lose access to the Yellow River. The city became part of the short-lived Pingyuan Province before eventually being annexed into Henan.[25]
The capital was also moved from Baoding to the new city of Shijiazhuang,and,for a short period,to Tianjin. On July 28,1976,Tangshan was struck by the Tangshan earthquake,the deadliest earthquake of the 20th century,killing over 240,000 people. There were a series of smaller earthquakes in the following decade.
Today,Hebei,along with Beijing and Tianjin municipalities which it includes,make up the Jing-Jin-Ji megalopolis region. With a population of 130 million,it is about six times the size of the New York metropolitan area and is one of the largest megalopolis clusters in China.[26] Beijing had also unloaded some of its non-capital functions to the province with the establishment of the Xiong'an New Area,which integrates the three municipalities.[27]
Geography
Hebei is the only province in China to contain plateaus,mountains,hills,shorelines,plains,and lakes.[28] Most of central and southern Hebei lies within the North China Plain. Western Hebei rises into the Taihang Mountains (Taihang Shan),while the Yan Mountains (Yan Shan) runs through northern Hebei. Beyond the mountains are the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. The highest peak is Mount Xiaowutai in Yu County in the northwest of the province,with an altitude of 2,882m (9,455ft).[1]
Hebei borders the Bohai Sea on the east. The Hai Riverwatershed covers most of the province's central and southern parts;the Luan River watershed covers the northeast. Excluding manmade reservoirs,the largest lake in Hebei is Baiyangdian,located in Anxin County,Baoding.
Hebei has a monsoon-influenced humid continental climate. Its winters are cold and dry,while its summers are hot and humid. Temperatures average −16 to −3°C (3 to 27°F) in January and 20 to 27°C (68 to 81°F) in July. The annual precipitation ranges from 400 to 800mm (16 to 31in),concentrated heavily in summer.
Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for selected locations in Hebei Province,China[29][30][31][32]
As with other provincial-level divisions in mainland China,Hebei is governed under a dual party-government system. The Governor of Hebei is the highest-ranking official in the People's Government of Hebei and is responsible for the provincial administration. However,the most powerful official in the province is the Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Hebei Provincial Committee,commonly known as the "Party Secretary",who holds greater influence than the governor within the province's political structure.
Hebei is one of northern China's major industrial provinces, with a diverse economy shaped by its strategic location surrounding Beijing and Tianjin, and a strong manufacturing base—though by national standards, it ranks relatively low in per capita income and development indicators. As of 2023, Hebei's gross domestic product (GDP) was approximately 4.394 trillion yuan (about US$624 billion), ranking it 12th among China's provincial-level regions.[39] The province's GDP per capita was around 59,300 yuan (roughly US$8,420), placing it 26th nationally.[39]
In terms of economic structure, Hebei's economy in 2023 was composed of a primary sector (agriculture, forestry, and fisheries) contributing 446.6 billion yuan, a secondary sector (manufacturing and construction) contributing 1.397 trillion yuan, and a tertiary sector (services) contributing 2.551 trillion yuan.[40] The registered urban unemployment rate was 3.08% as of the latest available data from 2021.[41]
Hebei's economy is supported by a robust industrial base, with mining and heavy industry playing a central role. The province is a key hub for coal and iron ore mining, as well as for steel production. Other important industries include petroleum refining, chemical manufacturing, ceramics, power generation, food processing, and textiles.
Hebei possesses significant mineral resources, which form the backbone of its industrial development. The Kailuan coal mine in Tangshan, with origins dating back to the late 19th century, is one of China's oldest and most historically important modern mines. It remains operational today, producing over 20 million tonnes of coal annually.[42] In addition to coal, the province is rich in iron ore. Major deposits are found in Handan and Qian'an, both of which supply raw materials to nearby steel plants.[43]
Hebei is also home to a portion of the North China Oilfield, one of China's largest inland oilfields, which supports the province's petroleum and petrochemical industries.[44]
Despite its industrial strength, Hebei also retains a significant agricultural workforce, with about 40% of the labor force engaged in agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry. A large portion of Hebei's agricultural output supplies the neighboring cities of Beijing and Tianjin. Principal crops include wheat, maize, millet, and sorghum, while cash crops such as cotton, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame are also cultivated.
Hebei Province was known as Zhili Province until 1928. Beijing was part of Hebei Province[17] until 1928. Tainjin was part of Hebei Province until 1928 and from 1954 to 1967. Rehe Province dissolved in 1955. Parts of it were incorporated into Hebei Province. Qahar Province dissolved in 1952. Parts of it were incorporated into Hebei Province.
Demographics
The population in Hebei is mostly Han Chinese. There are 55 ethnic minorities in Hebei, representing 4.27% of the total population. The largest ethnic groups are Manchu (2.1 million people), Hui (600,000 people), and Mongol (180,000 people).[56] Population totals do not include those in active service with the People's Liberation Army.[57]
In 2019, the birth rate was 10.83 births per 1,000 people, while the death rate was 6.12 deaths per 1,000 people.[58] The male population is 37,679,003 (50.50%), the female population is 36,931,232 (49.50%). The gender ratio of the total population was 102.02, decreasing by 0.82 from 2010.[59]
Hebei has the largest Catholic population in China, with one million members and 1.5 million Catholics according to the Catholic Church.[62][63] In 1900, apparition of the Virgin Mary was said have appeared in the town of Donglu in Baoding. As a result, Donglu is "one of the strongholds of the unofficial Catholic Church in China".[64] Many Catholics in Hebei remain loyal to the Pope and reject the authority of the Catholic Patriotic Church. Four of Hebei's underground bishops have been imprisoned in recent years: Bishop Francis An Shuxin of Donglu since 1996; Bishop James Su Zhimin since October 1997; Bishop Han Dingxiang of Yongnian who died in prison in 2007, and Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding since late 1999.[62][65]
People speak dialects of Mandarin across the Hebei, with most classified as part of the Ji Lu Mandarin subdivision of Chinese. Along the western border with Shanxi, dialects are distinct enough for linguists to consider them as part of Jin, another subdivision of Chinese. In general, the dialects of Hebei are similar to the Beijing dialect, which forms the basis for Standard Chinese and the official language of the nation. However, there are also some distinct differences, such as the pronunciation of some words, made by entering tone syllables (syllables ending on a plosive) in Middle Chinese.
Traditional forms of Chinese opera in Hebei include Pingju, Hebei Bangzi (Hebei Clapper Opera), and CangzhouKuaiban Dagu. Pingju is especially popular because it tends to use colloquial language which is easier for audiences to understand. Originating from northeastern Hebei, Pingju was influenced by other forms of Chinese opera such as Beijing opera. Traditionally Pingju has a xiaosheng (young male lead), a xiaodan (young female lead), and a xiaohualian (young comic character), though it has diversified to include other roles.[66]
Quyang County, in central Hebei, is noted for Ding ware, a type of Chinese ceramics which includes various vessels such as bowls, plates, vases, and cups, as well as figurines. Ding ware is usually creamy white, though it is also made in other colors.
Hebei cuisine is typically based on wheat, mutton, and beans. The donkey burger, originating from the cities of Baoding and Hejian, Cangzhou, is a staple in provincial cuisine and has spread into the two municipalities. Other dishes include local variants of shaobing.
Entertainment
Beidaihe, located near Shanhaiguan, is a popular beach resort.
The Ming Great Wall crosses the northern part of Hebei, and its eastern end is located on the coast at Shanhaiguan (Shanhai Pass), near Qinhuangdao. Informally known as the First Pass of The World, Shanhaiguan Pass was where Ming general Wu Sangui opened the gates to Manchu forces in 1644, beginning nearly 300 years of Manchu rule.
The Chengde Mountain Resort and its outlying temples are a World Heritage Site. Also known as the Rehe Palace, this was the summer resort of the Manchu Qing dynasty emperors. The resort was built between 1703 and 1792. It consists of a palace complex and a large park with lakes, pavilions, causeways, and bridges. There are also several Tibetan Buddhist and Han Chinese temples in the surrounding area.
There are Qing dynasty imperial tombs at Zunhua (Eastern Qing Tombs) and Yixian (West Qing Tombs). The Eastern Qing Tombs are the resting place of 161 Qing emperors, empresses, and other members of the Qing imperial family, while the West Qing Tombs have 76 burials. Both tomb complexes are part of a World Heritage Site.
The Zhaozhou, or Anji Bridge, was built by Li Chun during the Sui dynasty and is the oldest stone arch bridge in China. It is one of the most significant examples of pre-modern Chinese civil engineering. Baoding, the old provincial capital, contains the historic Zhili governor's residence and the former court.
Since 2014, Hebei has been central to the Jing-Jin-Ji regional integration initiative, which aims to build a unified high-speed intercity network linking Beijing, Tianjin, and all eleven of Hebei's prefecture-level cities. The network is managed by the Jing-Jin-Ji Intercity Railway Investment Co., Ltd., a joint venture of China Railway and the three regional governments.[68] Its master plan, approved in 2016, calls for a "four verticals, four horizontals, one ring" (四纵四横一环) network of approximately 3,172 km by 2030.[69] Total high-speed rail mileage in the region grew from around 1,284 km in 2013 to 2,675 km by the end of 2025.[70] By the close of the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan in 2020, every prefecture-level city in Hebei had been connected to the high-speed network, a milestone known as shì shì tōng gāotiě (市市通高铁).[71]
The recent expressway boom in China included Hebei. There are expressways to every prefecture-level city in Hebei, totaling approximately 2,000 kilometres (1,200mi). The total length of highways within Hebei is around 40,000 kilometres (25,000mi).[citation needed]
There are several ports along the Bohai Sea, including Huanghua, Jingtang, and Qinhuangdao. Qinhuangdao is the second busiest port in China and has a capacity of over 100 million tons.
Media
Hebei is served by the province-wide Hebei Television, abbreviated HEBTV. Shijiazhuang Radio & Television is a regional network that covers the provincial capital. Hebei is also served by three major newspapers: Hebei Daily, Yanzhao Metropolis Daily, and Yanzhao Evening News. Hebei Daily Newspaper Group publishes all three newspapers.
Notable people
Zu Chongzhi (429–500) – astronomer, mathematician, politician, inventor, and writer known for calculating pi to an accuracy that was not surpassed for 800 years
Feng Dao (881–954) – inventor, printer, and politician
↑The data was collected by the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) of 2009 and by the Chinese Spiritual Life Survey (CSLS) of 2007, reported and assembled by Xiuhua Wang (2015)[60] to confront the proportion of people identifying with two similar social structures: ① Christian churches, and ② the traditional Chinese religion of the lineage (i.e. people believing and worshipping ancestral deities often organized into lineage "churches" and ancestral shrines). Data for other religions with a significant presence in China (deity cults, Buddhism, Taoism, folk religious sects, Islam, et al.) was not reported by Wang. The number of Muslims is taken from a survey reported in the year 2010.[61]
References
Citations
12Liu, Yanlin (2015). 太行山把最高的山脊留在了河北. Chinese National Geography (in Chinese) (2). Retrieved 20 May 2018. 小五台山是太行山主脉上的最高峰，同时也是河北省的最高峰
↑Zhang, Ling (2016). The River, the Plain, and the State: An Environmental Drama in Northern Song China, 1048-1128. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp.1–4. ISBN9781107155985.
↑Susan Naquin, Peking: Temples and City Life, 1400-1900, p xxxiii
↑中华人民共和国县以上行政区划代码 (in Simplified Chinese). Ministry of Civil Affairs.
↑Shenzhen Bureau of Statistics. 《深圳统计年鉴2014》 (in Simplified Chinese). China Statistics Print. Archived from the original on 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
↑"河北省第七次全国人口普查公报(第一号)"(PDF). Hebei Provincial Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2021-07-09. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
↑河北省少数民族及宗教概况. Hebei People's Government. Archived from the original on 2017-04-19. Retrieved 2014-08-28.
↑{{Source: Department of Population, Social, Science, and Technology Statistics of the National Bureau of Statistics of China and Department of Economic Development of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, eds. Tabulation on Nationalities of 2000 Population Census of China. 2 vols. Beijing: Nationalities Publishing House (民族出版社), 2003. ( ISBN7-105-05425-5)}}
12Min Junqing. The Present Situation and Characteristics of Contemporary Islam in China. JISMOR, 8. 2010 Islam by province, page 29. Data from: Yang Zongde, Study on Current Muslim Population in China, Jinan Muslim, 2, 2010.
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